, 1887-02-10
Proceedings In the Senate and
House.
The President VetOes Several
Pension Bills.
A Report from the Commissioner
OF Patents.
SENATE.


offered resolution to discharge the
committee on territories from future
consideration of the house bill to
islative assembly of Washington Terri
tory, and gave notice he would call it
up on Monday.
The senate then proceeded to con-
slider pension bills on the calender.
The senate passed sixty-six pension
bills, among them house bill granting
pension of $50 month to the
widow of Brigadier-General Thomas
Francis Meagher, house bill increas-
ing the pension OF the widow of Col.
James Hemphill Jones, of the marine
corps, from $50 to $40 per month, sem
ate bill increasing the pension of the
widow of Major General Hunter to $50
per month, and one giving army
nurses $12 month, one giving a
volunteer nurse $25 month, one in
creasing the pension of the widow of
Commodore Spicer to $50 per month,
and one increasing the pension of the
widow of Col. Lorenberrit to 800 per
month.
The senate then proceeded to the
consideration of the Indian appropri-
alton bill. The bill, which contains
52 printed pages, was passed without
word of discussion and with no more.
delay than was consistent with its very
rapid reading.
Merrill moved to proceed to the con-
sideration OF the bill to reimburse de-
positors of the Freedmen's Savings and
Trust Company. Not agreed to.
MCPHERSON made IL personal explain
alton in regard to the statement in Il
Washington correspondence of the
New York World. He was therein
represented as saying, in quotation
marks: "That the report of the ju-
dietary committee on the Pacific rail-
road matter was very great triumph
for the World. That il was very
clear to his mind that as
soon as congress comprehended the
true nature OF the exposure vigorous
steps would be taken to bring the Pa
cific railroads to book" This state
ment he had made and he stood by it
and emphasized it now. The article
went on to say, however, but not in
quotation marks, and not as quoting
him, that it is believed an investiga-
ton will lead to such disclosures that
Senator Stanford would be willing to
resign his seat in the senate. That he
would have to explain his share in the
illegal expenditure of $2,OOO,O0O, etc
This latter statement was not attrib-
uted to him and was not quoted as the
other statement was. The high char
acter OF the Worlds correspondent
precluded the idea of his attrbuting
to any senator a statement which he
had not made. His own pleasant rela-
lations with Senator Stanford forbade
his making such statement in relation
to him, besides he had no knowledge
of the matter referred to. He made
this explanation so as to put stop to
any misapprehension, and attention
had been called to it this morning by
several senators.
The senate bill to incorporate the
Atlantic and Pacific ship railway COM
pany, the Eads Tehuantepec bill, vas
then taken up as special order.
Morgan discussed the bill at some
length. Finally he remarked that the
subject was very important one, that
it was not explained when it
came up and that consequently but
few senators were in the chamber and
he suggested whether the senator
would not prefer to continue his
epeech on Monday.
Hale offered an amendment that
except as to the guarantee of $780,
OOO expressly provided in the bill the
United States should be in no respect
whatever liable for any debt or obli-
CATION of the company. Senate then
adjourned.
HOUSE.
The speaker laid before the the
house message from the president
returning without his approval bill
granting pension to Cuthbert Stone.
In his veto message the president states
that the army records show that the
claimant spent most of his term of en-"
listment in desertion, or imprisonment
for desertion. Thus, says the presi-
dent is exhibited the long and faithful
service and high character of the claim
ant as mentioned by the committee en-
titling him to favor. i withhold
my assent from the bill because il the
facts before me are true the allowance
of this claim would be travesty on the
scheme of the pensions and an insu 1t
to every brave, decent veteran soldier.
In vetoing the bill granting pension
to Abraham 4. Grigg, the president
quotes from the hospital records to
show that the claiment was not sick,
but completely worthless, obese and
lazy. The president does not regard
it as strange that this claiment, en-
couraged by the ease with which spec
ial acts are passed, seeks relief by such
means twenty years after his claim
had been rejected by the pension
bureau. The president also sent in
messages vetoing bills granting PEN
sions 70 Franklin Sweet, Jesse Camp
bell, r. X. Bennett, Catherine Salive.
and Jas. X, BAYLOR, on the ground,